The
events have been so explored by the media that I was trying not to enter the
circus by adding my insignificant opinion to the mix, however it’s not in my
nature to keep quiet.
The Iraqi
twins gave an interview to the Portuguese TV channel SIC this week presenting
their version of what happened that night, while one of the Portuguese boys involved
on the incidents gave his and the Asian boy who accompanied the twins to the
bar also gave his. Thus my opinion was formed by these different points of view.
There is no doubt in my mind that there was an altercation inside the bar between the Portuguese group and the foreigner.
The Portuguese boy said that the twins started it when one of them flashed his butt inside the bar. One of the twins says he was showing his tattoo to their companion and that the Portuguese teens took great offence by that action. The Asian description is similar to the Portuguese boy’s.
I personally don’t see what’s the big deal here. Portuguese teenagers show their butts all the time just because it’s fashionable to use low waist trousers like the rappers.
I have issues with a Portuguese teenage group having more than a few drinks in a bar. It should never have happened. Underage shouldn’t be allowed to drink. Yet this rule should be as applicable to a fifteen years old as to a seventeen. As I can't agree with the freedom parents give to their children. A fifteen years old shouldn't be out that late (but that's just my opinion).
Then there is the matter that summer holydays keep young people with too much free time. In a small city where there’s not many opportunities to find a summer occupation they tend to waist three months doing nothing (or better yet, being inconsequent teens).
Now, accordingly to the Asian boy who was with the twins, the fight took place outside the bar. He says that both sides were to blame.
Oh, I do believe that. Even because he also said that the Iraqi boys were drunk.
Who cares if the twins waited for the group outside or if the group followed the twins and encircled them (as they claim)?
The thing is that they fought and by the time our National Republican Guard (GNR) arrived, the fight was over.
From what the twins have said, this is where things got weird.
GNR, took the twins home that night and advised them to make a formal complaint which the two boys refused to make.
So while the Portuguese boy and his friends where still lose in the night, the Iraqi twins were left safely at home.
So why have they decided to go back out? They claim they left (or lost) a few objects at the scene and went back to get it. Wouldn’t it have been easier to phone GNR and tell them that they had lost ( left) those objects in or outside the bar so that the authorities could take the proper measures to get it for them without any risk?
But no, they’ve decided to get inside a car, most likely still under the influence of alcohol, and drive back to the bar where everything happened.
What the twins say is that they were once again insulted by the Portuguese boy and reacted to it.
So, let’s analyse what is said by the media + the twins.
The Portuguese boy was coming from his girlfriend’s house and was walking by himself on the main street of “Ponte de Sôr” at around four o’clock in the morning while the two Iraqi boys were driving their car.
Then, even if Ruben (the Portuguese boy), has indeed insulted the boys, could he have been a real threat to the twins since he had not the safety of numbers on his side anymore?
I ask this because the Iraqi government wrote a statement saying that the incident had been in self- defence.
Had it been during the earlier fight and I could have doubts about the reason why Ruben was so savagely attacked. As it is I have no doubt in my mind that the brutality shown was an act of revenge. Rage blinds, and that’s what I believe happened here. The fury was such that the twins lost control of the situation and did not measure the consequences.
Did they have reasons to be mad?
I wasn’t there to tell yet nothing can justify something like this.
The pain it is causing to both families (I’m certain the Portuguese family is not the only one suffering with all this, but the Iraqi as well, as I am sure that the ambassador wasn’t expecting something like this coming from his sons) as to be respected.
As for the reaction of the embassy this week, I think it is totally justifiable. Most parents only wish is to protect their offspring, right? Though I do hope that in the privacy of that house the father shows his sons that every action has consequences.
Regarding the allegedly insults to the Iraqi and their religion, if it indeed happened, those involved should also be punished. It is urgent to teach our children that the differences are what make mankind special, and that people should never be judged by their race, color, or religion.
Much more important than an apology broadcasted on TV, is the apology those boys (all of them if there’s grievance from both sides) should exchange between them, eye to eye.
